SB2305 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB102 16143 CMG 21519 b

102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2021 and 2022
SB2305

Introduced 2/26/2021, by Sen. Ann Gillespie

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

110 ILCS 947/65.110 new

Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. Creates the School Social Work Shortage Loan Repayment grant program. Provides that the Illinois Student Assistance Commission shall, each year, receive and consider applications from eligible social workers who are employed by a public elementary or secondary school district in the State. Relative thereto, the grant program may encourage a grant recipient to use the financial assistance for the repayment of educational loans. Sets forth eligibility requirements. Effective July 1, 2022.

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning higher education.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Higher Education Student Assistance Act is amended by adding Section 65.110 as follows:

(110 ILCS 947/65.110 new)

Sec. 65.110. School social work shortage loan repayment grant program.

(a) To encourage Illinois students to work, and to continue to work, as a school social worker in public and nonpublic school districts in this State, the Commission shall, each year, receive and consider applications for loan repayment assistance under this Section. This program shall be known as the Illinois School Social Work Shortage Loan Repayment Program. The Commission shall administer the program and shall adopt all necessary and proper rules to effectively implement the program.

(b) Beginning July 1, 2022, subject to a separate appropriation made for such purposes, the Commission shall award a grant up to a maximum of $6,500 to each qualified applicant. The Commission may encourage the recipient of a grant under this Section to use the grant award for repayment of the recipient's educational loan.

(c) A person is a qualified applicant under this Section if he or she meets all of the following qualifications:

(1) The person is a United States citizen or eligible noncitizen.

(2) The person is a resident of this State.

(3) The person is a borrower with an outstanding balance due on an educational loan related to obtaining a degree in social work.

(4) The person has been employed as a school social worker by a public elementary school or secondary school in this State for at least 12 consecutive months.

(5) The person is currently employed as a school social worker by a public elementary school or secondary school in this State.

(d) An applicant shall submit an application, in a form determined by the Commission, for grant assistance under this Section to the Commission. An applicant is required to submit, with the application, supporting documentation as the Commission may deem necessary.

(e) The Commission shall give priority to an applicant who is a member of an underrepresented community in the school social work field in Illinois.

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect July 1, 2022.